India Goes Big: Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad Bid For World Athletics Events In 2028

Last Updated:January 22, 2026, 20:45 IST

India, led by Athletics Federation of India, bids to host 2028 World Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar and World U20 Championships in Ahmedabad.

Athletics Representational Image. (Unsplash)

India has officially thrown its hat into the ring for two major World Athletics events in 2028.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is bidding to host the World Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar and the World U20 Championships in Ahmedabad, a double push that would mark a major milestone for Indian athletics.

The U20 bid was already in motion when World Athletics president Sebastian Coe visited India in late 2024, with Ahmedabad positioned as the proposed host city.

Now, the ambition has grown.

Bhubaneswar has entered the frame for the World Indoor Championships, with World Athletics officials inspecting the state-of-the-art indoor facility at the Kalinga Stadium complex earlier this week.

A two-member World Athletics delegation carried out the inspection on Wednesday, joined by World Athletics Vice-President and former AFI chief Adille Sumariwalla, along with Odisha government officials. The visit was a key step in assessing India’s readiness to host elite indoor competition.

World Athletics is expected to announce the hosts for the 2028 and 2030 World Junior (U20) Championships in March, with the host city for the 2028 World Indoor Championships likely to be confirmed around the same time.

India isn’t alone in the race. New Zealand has also expressed interest in hosting the 2028 World Indoors, setting up a competitive bidding battle.

“A World Athletics team was there in Bhubaneswar earlier this week in relation to the World Indoor Championships bid. They have also visited Ahmedabad to take stock of the facilities regarding India’s bid for the 2028 World U20 Championships," Sumariwalla confirmed.

“It will be a tough bidding competition as other strong countries are also in the fray. But we are hopeful of getting both the global events."

Bhubaneswar has also bid to host the 2028 Asian Indoor Championships and will stage India’s first-ever National Indoor Championships in March, a crucial test event for the venue.

Meanwhile, Ahmedabad’s long-term sporting ambitions continue to grow. The city, already confirmed as host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, is also bidding for the 2031 World Athletics Championships and even the 2036 Olympic Games.

(with PTI inputs)

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